Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), also known as the (Army of the) Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, is a branch of the Iranian Army that is supposed to protect Iran's Islamic system. It became a multibillion dollar business empire in recent years, becoming the third-richest organization in Iran.

History
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps was founded in 1979 after the Iranian Revolution that overthrew the Kingdom of Iran. That year, they crushed a rebellion in Kurdistan and fought in the Iran-Iraq War as an elite unit of the Iranian Army. According to the constitution of Iran, the IRGC's goal was to maintain Iran's Islamic system. However, its power surpassed even that of the Shi'a legal system, and they became a multibillion dollar business empire and the third-richest organization in Iran. In 1988, they were responsible for the Lockerbie Bombing, and are also held responsible for the imports of illegal alcohol into the country. The IRGC is heavily-controversial not only due to its suspected terrorism and its corruption, but also due to their operations outside of their borders; they fought in the Lebanese Civil War and the Bosnian War to back Lebanon and the Mujahideen, respectively.